Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-01-22
JOHN ROACH DEAD.
The Great Ship Builder Passes
Away to Another Shore.
Death of Pioneer Of St. Joseph-A Ven-
cradle Judge Drops Dead
John Roach at Rest.

NEW YORK, Jan. l0.-John Roach. the great
ship builder, died at s O'Clock this morning
A cancerous growth had eaten its way into
the side of his neck, below the angle of the
Jaw, involving the large arteries which became
liable to rupture at any moment.
He was in great pain all day yesterday, and
to give relief large doses of morphine were in
jected, and he was unconscious most of the
time In the few clear moments he had he
spoke 10 his son Garrett, who was with him
all the time and remained with his father
during the night, occupying seat beside the
Ded ana helping the nurses who applied sooth-
ing pouitices and renewed the injections Of
morphine every time the patient awakened.
Only few intimate friends of the family
were admitted to the house yesterday, but
NOBODY other than the nurses and physicians
were allowed to see him. The family remain
Ell up with him until l O'Clock this morning,
when they retired, with the exception of Gar
rett, who remained on watch with the nurses
Dr. TAYLOR called at o'clock this morning,
detected the approach of death, and at once
Informed the family that Mr.. Roach had only
few hours to live. The diving man sank
slowly. lie lost consciousness about 7:30,
anu his end was unmarked by struggle.
In the room surrounding the couch were
Mrs. William +. Mcpherson of Philadelphia,
Garret n. Roach, John b. Roach, Stephen w.
Roach, Miss Emiline Roach, John Walton,
nephew, Mrs. Roach and three grandchildren.
The date of the funeral has not been decided
upon. Ii will take place from st. Paul's
Methodist Episcopal church corner Of
which he was member. The interment will
be in the family plot at Greenwood cemetery.
John Roach was born in Ireland. He came
10 this country when 10 years old, but finding
no employment in New York he crossed over
into New Jersey in search of a man who
worked for his father In the old country. He
found him at the Howell works, sixty miles
from Jersey City, and procured work in the
same establishment, which was owned by
James Allaire. Three years from his begin
ming life in the United States he had accumu-
lated 81, 800, and leaving the balance of his
savings in the hands of Mr.. Allaire, he took
small amount of cash and started for the west
with the intention of buying land Mr. AL
laire's failure In business killed this project
and left the young man under the necessity of
working as laborer in order to live. He re-
turned to New York, and shortly afterward-
he was a married man by this time-set up in
business, in which he prospered for awhile
but was afterward financially ruined by the
explosion Of boiler. He started afresh and
became the owner Of the foundry in which
were built the largest engines ever con-
structed in the United States up TO that time
After few years he bought out the Morgan
iron works, the Neptune, the Franklin forge
he also bought the shipyards at Chester, Pa,
wnedby Rainer d Sons, and since that time
he had built many fine steamships.
MIR. Roach was strong protectiOnist in his
views, and was strenuous advocate Of con-
gressional subsidies looking TO the restoration
OF the strength and prestige of the United
States commercial marine. He was a strong
republican and worked industriously for his
party, circulating tracts written by himself
under fictitious name.
The story of the trouble between John Roach
and Secretary Whitney over the acceptance Of
the dispatch boat Dolphin during the summer
OF 1885 is familiar TO all readers. In July Of
that year an honorable assignment followed
The blow broke the heart which had been SO
strong, and tears blotted the assignment pa
per as he signed his name and hurried away
to his summer home.